What 4/7 means
With fractional odds, the first number is what you win and the second is what you stake. At 4/7, you stake £7 to win £4, so your profit is smaller than your stake. That's what makes it odds-on: the bookmaker rates this outcome as more likely to happen than not.
It's read as "four to seven", but bookmakers often turn odds-on prices round, so you'll also hear 4/7 called "seven to four on" or "7/4 on". Both mean the same thing.
4/7 in decimal and American odds
| Format | 4/7 as | How it's worked out |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 1.57 | 4 ÷ 7 + 1 |
| American | -175 | 100 ÷ (1.57 − 1) |
| Implied probability | 63.6% | 1 ÷ 1.57 |
What 4/7 pays
| Stake | Profit | Total return |
|---|---|---|
| £1.00 | £0.57 | £1.57 |
| £2.00 | £1.14 | £3.14 |
| £5.00 | £2.86 | £7.86 |
| £10.00 | £5.71 | £15.71 |
| £20.00 | £11.43 | £31.43 |
| £50.00 | £28.57 | £78.57 |
| £100.00 | £57.14 | £157.14 |
How likely is 4/7 to win?
4/7 implies a 63.6% chance, or about 7 in 11. The bookmaker expects this outcome more often than not. The true chance is usually a little lower than this, because bookmakers build a margin into every price.
4/7 each way
An each way bet splits your stake between a win bet and a place bet, with the place part paid at a fraction of 4/7. For a £5 each way bet (£10 in total):
| Place terms | Place odds | Returns if it wins | Returns if it places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 odds | 1/7 | £13.57 | £5.71 |
| 1/5 odds | 4/35 | £13.43 | £5.57 |
At 1/5 terms, a placed finish returns £5.57 from the £10 total stake, so it still loses £4.43 overall. Each way needs bigger prices than 4/7 for the place part to cover the bet. Work out any each way bet.
If a horse at 4/7 is withdrawn
When a horse priced at 4/7 is withdrawn after you've bet on another runner in the same race, Rule 4 takes 60p from every £1 of your winnings. It applies to bets struck at a fixed price before the withdrawal. Work out a Rule 4 deduction.
Prices either side of 4/7
See every common price explained, or convert any price with the odds converter.